Anti-tipping rollers



Sept. 1968 R. A. w. JOHANSON ET AL 3,401,952

ANTI -TIPPING ROLLERS Filed Sept. 21, 1966 INVENIOR. RALPH FLW. JOHANSON JACQUES L. LE BAIGUE United States Patent 3,401,952 ANIl-TIPPING ROLLERS Ralph A. W. Johanson, Armonk, and Jacques L. Le

Baigue, Westbury, N.Y., assignors to Electrolux Corporation, Old Greenwch, Conn., a corporation oI Delaware Filed Sept. 21, 1966, Ser. No. 581,073 3 Claims. (Cl. 280-150) ABSIRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A vacuum cleaner having a castered wheel at one end and a pair of side wheels at the other end for movement of the cleaner as it is pulled from place to place via the suction hose, In addition an outrigger is provided having a pair of longitudinally extending elliptically shaped rollers which are attached to the cleaner body adjacent to the castered wheel to prevent tipping of the cleaner without impeding its movement.

Our invention relates to a vacuum cleaner of the tank type and in particular t0 antitipping rollers for such apparatus.

The primary object of our invention is to provide a tank type vacuum cleaner housing with rollers to prevent a cleaner of this type arom tipping when pulled sidewise, or at any angle, and which is attractive as well as functional.

The foregoing object and advantages as well as further objects and advantages will become apparent from the attached drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a partial schematic side elevation of a vacuum cleaner provided with the antitipping rollers according to one embodiment of our invention;

FIG. 2 is an end view looking from left to right in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a partial schematic side elevation of another embodiment of our invention.

In FIGS. 1 and 2 reference numeral designates the body of a tank type vacuum cleaner which bouses a dust bag and motorfan unit as is well known and therefore not shown. Each end of the body is provided with appropriate fittings for connecting various tools to the cleaner. The end fitting 11 is adapted to receive a hose, the other end of which is connected to a floor cleaning tool as is well known. In use, the floor cleaner tool is moved about and the cleaner is subject to side pulls which cause the cleaner to tip over. To prevent this in accordance with our invention a pair of rollers 12 are pivotally suspended at each side of the body on outriggers 13 which are placed near the end of the body having the fitting 11. The rollers 12 are preferably generally elliptically configured so that they will not impede movement et the clean when pulled forwardly and sidewise simultaneously.

Normally the cleaner body 10 is supported to the pair of rear wheels 20 and a caster 21 attached to the cleaner body between the anti-tip rollers 12 in a vertical plane concident with the longitudinal axis of the body 10. The caster 21 is pivotal through 360 by an suitable means such as a hall bearing assembly.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, a pair of discrete rollers 22 and 23 are independently journaled in the outriggers 13 in place of a single roller as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. In each embodiment shown in the drawing the outriggers are placed on the body to support the rollers spaced slightly above the floor.

It will be apparent that the rollers 12 or 22, 23 may be utilized without the use of a caster 21 which is preferred however. Other variations will ibe apparent also and therefore the foregoing description is not to be taken as limiting the scope of the sub-joined claims.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination vvith a vacuum cleaner of antitipping means; said means comprising outrigger means attached to said vacuum cleaner body in a horizontal plane in the normal operating position 04: said body, and generally elliptical roller means at each side of said body and journaled in said outrigger member and having their axes of rotation parallel with the longitudinal axis of said vacuum cleaner; a caster attached to said body for 360 of relative rotation and being located on said body between said rollers; said caster being dimensioned to support said body with said rollers spaced from the fioor when said body is in said normal operating position.

2. The combinafion according to claim 1 wherein said generally elliptical roller means comprises a pair of discrete semi-elliptcal rollers each of which is separately journaled in each said outrigger members.

3. The combination according to claim 2 With the addition of a wheel on each side of said body adjacent the end thereof remote from said rollers.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,088,236 7/ 1937 Faber 28062 2,095,942 10/1937 Wetterstrand 280 1 1.23 2,817,540 12/ 1957 Pawsat 280-293 FOREIGN PATENTS 475,792 8/ 1951 Canada.

BENJAMIN HERSH, Primary Examiner.

R. SONG, Assistant Examiner. 

